Twenty-six species, and many varieties. Hardy and half-hardy evergreen shrubs, except R. rhodora, which is deciduous and hardy. R. ponticum, Common Rhododendron. R. maximum; R. Caucasicum; R. cam-panulatum; and R. Catawbiensis, are the best hardy species. It is to be regretted that such a noble evergreen shrub as R. maximum should be so seldom seen in our grounds. Here in the United States, where it is indigenous, it is really less known than in England, where it forms one of the main features of the undergrowth in lawns and pleasure grounds, - when will Americans learn to estimate as they deserve, their own natural products! From the above named species have been obtained the following superior.

Varieties

R. Russellianum, scarlet; R. Lowei, pale straw; R. tigrinum, pale rose: R. nobleanum, dark red; R. splendidum, (Cunningham's,) white; R. altaclerence, scarlet; R. multimacu-latum, pale rose, spotted; R.arboreum roseum, bright rose; R. Victoria, deep red; R. venustum, pink; R. augustum, pale flesh spotted; R. pulcherrimum, scarlet; R. grandiflorum, (Cunningham's,) pale flesh; R. macranthum, rose; R. Knightii, scarlet; and R. Car-narvonianum, bright rose.

Hybrids With Azalea

R. Adonsonii; R. Azaleoides; R. azaleoides album; R. fragrans; R. Interna; and R. Gow-erianum.

Green-House Species And Varieties

R. anthopogon, purple; R. arboreum cinnamomeum, reddish purple; R. lap-ponicum, crimson; R. setosum, purple.

Characteristics Of Excellence

Mr. Glenny gives the following good criteria: - "The flower large, circular, and campanulated, or hollow like a globular cup. The five divisions of the petals should be concealed by means of the lapping over. The petal thick, smooth-edged, and stiff. The truss, pyramidal or dome-shaped, standing clear of the foliage; the flower compact, touching, but not crowding each other; footstalks stiff and elastic. The colour brilliant, the spots distinct and contrasted, and stand well without fading. The plant should be bushy, the foliage bright, clear, green, large, and disposed all round the branch, especially round the flower ; the stems should be well covered with leaves, and the bloom should be abundant. It should not bloom until the middle of May, if hardy, for those flowering before the frosts have ceased, have the blooms spoiled." - Gard. and Prac. Flor.

Propagation. By Seed

The same good floricultural authority gives these excellent directions: - "The seed vessels must be gathered as soon as ripe, and before they burst; let them lie in a drawer in the stove or green-house, or a sunny window, to burst and give out their seed: sow immediately; and, to sow thin enough, mix it with twenty times its quantity of the smallest sand, Sow in pots with good drainage, and the following compost. One half rich loam, such as the top spit of an old meadow, sifted through a coarse sieve; the other half the best peat or bog earth, such as is formed of the half-decayed fibres broken into pieces and rubbed through the same sieve; by knocking the bottom of the pan or pot on the potting table or bench, the compost will be solid enough without pressing; level it and sow very thinly; then with a fine sieve, sift a little of the compost on the seeds very evenly, and only just enough to cover them; over this put a little fine sand, not more than one sixteenth of an inch deep. Take a brush about the texture and strength of a clothes brush, dip it in water, turn its hairs upwards, pointing at the seeds, draw your hand along the hairs towards you, and they will throw off an almost imperceptible shower of moisture, by means of which the whole surface can be fairly wetted with out disturbing a seed or a grain of the compost.

When the seedlings have four good leaves, prick out into other pans of the same kind of compost, three inches apart, carefully raising them without disturbing the surface to hurt the more backward seedlings, and the pan may be put back to its place, for the seeds will continue coming up for a considerable time. When pricked out, they should be watered, and afterwards regularly. Though in the green-house keep them under hand-glasses for a few days until re-established, after which they may be removed to a cold frame, or put out of doors. Shade from the mid-day sun, weed regularly, and carefully tend until they have grown to touch each other. They should then be potted in sixties in the same kind of soil. They have now only to be kept from getting dry, which in such small pots requires much care; the best and easiest way is to plunge the pots to the rim in coal ashes, and still have frames over them for the purpose of preserving them from excessive wet, heat, and cold. When they have perfected a second growth, and are resting, shift them into forty-eight sized pots, and treat them as before, and so continue shifting from size to size until they flower." - Gard. and Prac. Flor. - Gard. Chron.

Raising Varieties is best done in April from forced plants, the two intended to be bred from being brought into bloom at the same time. They should be widely different in colour, or form, or habit, or some peculiarity which may be desirable to combine in one. Hybrids may be obtained by impregnating the Rhododendron with pollen from the Azalea.